Baxter~Bad Teeth+Heart Mumur

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Jenn & Baxter

Jenn & Baxter

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Baxter FD DX Nov 12th 2011. Baxter is 14 yrs old.
When Baxter went to the vet for his intial visit to be DX in Nov. I had the vet look at his teeth. Baxter has about 3 teeth that need attention/pulled. The vet at that time told me that Baxter had a heart mumur & the risk of him under going the surgery was really high. The vets main concern was to get Baxter diabetes under control then we would talk about teeth. I kind of got the impression there really wasn't anything I could do about his teeth.

It's now 2 months later. Baxters diabetes seem to be some what under control. Even going OTJ for 3 weeks in Dec. Baxter is currently back on .50 PZI 2x daily.
Baxters 2 month appointment is tomorrow. Blood work will be done to check for B vitamins. Baxter has neuropathy. I have already requested a vial on B-12 for me to adminster at home.

I will be talking about Baxters teeth again tomorrow. What questions should I be asking? Having Baxters teeth in the best shape is extremely important to me. If I would have owned Baxter from a kitten I know his teeth would not be in this condition. He would have been going yearly.
Does any own a cat with heart mumur or any other heart condition & under went the procedure?
I am scared that his bad teeth is keeping him from going OTJ for good. I am also scared for him to have the procedure done in the very near future if the risk are so high. I would go crazy if I said yes to the surgery & end up not having my friend leave the vet with me. I don't really know much about heart murmurs & how serious they can be.
I really could use some advice & questions I need to ask the vet tomorrow.


Thank you,
Jenn & Baxter
 
houston

Dr. Kyle A. Brayley
Bay Area Veterinary Specialists
12855 Gulf Freeway
Houston, TX 77034
Tel: 281‑464‑3554, ext. 4
Website: www.bayareaveterinaryspecialists.com

Dr. Jenifer Lunney Brayley
Bay Area Veterinary Specialists
12855 Gulf Freeway
Houston, TX 77034
Tel: 281‑464‑3554, ext. 4
E-mail: umsh@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.bayareaveterinaryspecialists.com

Jenn, above are Board Certified Cardiologists in Houston. I would strongly suggest getting one of them to do a heart check on Baxter and find out just what his heart is doing. If they okay a dental, then I would go to a Board Certified Dental Specialists. I'll look and see if one is near Houston. They are few and far between.


TEXAS


Robert C. Boyd

Diplomate

Veterinary Dental Services


11001 Fondren Road

Houston, TX 77096


(713) 777-2323

(713) 777-2378


Johnathon R Dodd

Diplomate

Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital/Texas Vet Med Ctr


4474 TAMU

College Station, TX 77843-4474


(979) 845-2351


William R. Gengler

Diplomate

Gengler Animal Dentistry Consulting


10304 Countryside Drive

October to May

Denton, TX 76207




Heidi B. Lobprise

Diplomate

Mailing Address


13501 Willow Creek Drive

Haslet, TX 76052


(817)701-8259


Donald L. Ross

Diplomate

Houston Veterinary Dental Clinic


12810 Fountain Lake Circle

Stafford, TX 77477


(281) 325-0074
 
My Gabby had a heart murmur and I was afraid for a very long time to have her under anesthesia because I was told years ago that she had a greater risk of dying because of it. Her murmur was a 3 (on the scale from 1 to 6). She needed teeth pulled at 14, and I was very nervous but I had it done. She was just fine and like a new cat after..I never realized how much her teeth were hurting her. She wasn't diabetic though.
 
A heart murmur does not always indicate heart disease, and as mentioned, they grade them. I also think you need to have some testing done like a cardiac ultrasound and chest xrays.

http://maxshouse.com/heart_murmurs.htm

Merlyn had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but no heart murmur. He probably had it before I got him.. he had a toe amputated, and dentals.. but after diagnosis of severe HCM, it was not advised that we put him under anesthesia for anything. He got valium and torbugesic for xrays. He was OTJ by that time.
 
Gabby's heart murmur was congenital, and apart from all four of the vets she had over the years commenting on it you never would have known she had one. It stayed a grade 3 for her entire 16 years.

I forgot to mention that when I was originally told by my old, old, old vet that Gabby should never go under anesthesia, it was 1996. There have been major improvements in pet anesthesia since then, which is why I agreed to it in 2009.
 
Re: Baxter~Bad Teeth+Heart Mumur-update

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I know of Bay Area Specialist. My last Siamese, Kacoo spent several days there under the care of Dr. Jennifer. She is so kind. She even came to my house & helped Kacoo to the bridge. Afterwards she gave me a angel pin. I wore that pin on my shirt for days after. I still have it & it sits on Kacoos box of ashes. Oh...that still makes me so sad. :cry:
The Dental Specialist you listed well 2 of them are pretty close....well do able driving.

Today Baxters visit to the vet went pretty well.
The vet listened to his heart. Said his mumur was at about a 1 or 2. He would only confirm after X-rays & ultra sound. We talked about his teeth. He thinks Baxters teeth really need a good cleaning at this point, no teeth pulling.
First, come up with the $$
Second, X-rays & Ultra sound
Third, teeth cleaning

Julia thank you for sharing your story it really gave me comfort & hope that Baxter will be alright going through the procedure.
 
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